Nucor Steel is the new presenting sponsor of the Great American Comedy Festival — and not just for this year.

Earlier this year, Nucor agreed to serve in that capacity in 2014 and for the next three years.

“We’re very pleased to have Nucor support the comedy festival in this way,” said Paula Pflueger, the festival’s vice chairwoman. “Nucor does so much for Norfolk and the surrounding area. To have them come on board as the festival’s presenting sponsor is just one more example of how much Nucor cares about the community.”

Nucor Steel has about 480 teammates at the steel mill located northeast of Norfolk. Other Nucor divisions in Norfolk are Vulcraft, Cold Finish and the Nucor Detailing Center. In all, the company employs about 1,000 Norfolkans and area residents.

WOWT in Omaha is a new media partner with the festival in 2014, and appropriately so since the late Johnny Carson – who serves as the inspiration for the comedy festival – worked at the Omaha NBC affiliate after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“This is a great fit for the festival,” said Kent Warneke, festival chairman. “We’ve very pleased to be working with WOWT this year.”

The comedy festival benefits greatly from a large number of sponsors each year. Their financial support helps keep ticket prices affordable and allows festival organizers to keep bringing to Norfolk world-class comedy talent.

But the presenting sponsor tops the list in terms of its importance to the festival, Pflueger said.

Viaero Wireless previously served for four years as the festival’s presenting sponsor.

“We can’t say enough about how much we appreciate all the support offered by the festival’s sponsors. We couldn’t keep doing this without their involvement,” she said.